/==/ Chapter Three /==/
While Coco was trying to decide if the girl of her dreams was a girl, considering the picture evidence she and Bun-Bun had before them. As Jaune was having a slightly uncomfortable conversation with her Aunt about her recent activities. Ozpin was ripping the medallion from his throat, and gasping as his body morphed back from that of a beguiling older lady. It hurt, and had hurt. It was a dull numbing pain, but he could feel it through out his entire body; as the magic of the medallion twisted his flesh to fit into a more feminine shape.
"I understand, and can't... can't fathom how she suffered through that for so long!" Ozpin gasped. He had tried to dull the feeling of thousands of insects crawling under his skin, using his aura. It was a theory he had contemplated; but it had failed. He had only wore the cursed artifact for a few hours, and the strain it had put his body through still had him panting. "This can not continue... it'll break her."
Taking a few steadying breaths, he straightened out his clothing, before moving around his desk and taking a seat. He needed a new plan, a more tolerable way to keep Jaune hidden. Further use of the medallion would cause irreparable harm to the young woman. Reaching up he pinched the bridge of his nose while letting his glasses slide down.
"There has to be a better option." he whispered to himself. He had always found listening to his own voice helped him contemplate options. "If we can't... no I won't have her use that medallion any more. Which means Glynda's suggestion is no longer valid. So we are back to square one... unless..."
Rising from his chair, he made his way to fairly extensive library of esoteric books he kept in his office. Many of which had been penned by his own hand in previous incarnations. He didn't have much use for most of the aged tomes, but the wealth of information they contained could not be overlooked. There were entire histories hidden inside the worn leather bindings. Accounts of events and life that not even Doctor Oobleck would, or could imagine. Ozpin had always made a concerted effort in every incarnation to locate and collect these works. It was when he was finally able to become the Headmaster of Beacon that he had a repository to store the aged wisdom contained with in their pages. The ones on display in his office where only a small portion of what he had stored away in the secure stacks of Beacon's library.
He of course hid the information contained within from his associates and contemporaries. It would not do for them to gain such knowledge, though there were times he had an urge to give in an allow the secrets of ages past flow out into the world at large. Lessons from ages of antiquity could do so much good, but as with everything the potential for harm was also there. So he sat on the information, making efforts to conceal it, from prying eyes.
"Is this it?" Ozpin muttered as he pulled a rather plain looking and well worn leather bound journal sized book from the shelf. Blowing the collected dust off the cover he traced the etched archaic runes on the cover with his fingers. There was no one left alive beside himself and her that could understand the language those letters were used for. Opening the book, he flipped through the pages, stopping every so often to run the index finger of his right hand down the elegant script. "Yes I believe it is."
A ping from his terminal, drew his attention from the words he was reading.
/=/
Jaune lay on her bed, manipulating a deck of cards between her hands. She would cut the deck with one hand and then split it, before making motions with her hands to fan and then close them. Once when she was much younger she had wanted to be a wizard. She was informed that magic wasn't real, and that the closest she could get to it was sleight of hand like what the magicians she watched on tv used. So she studied, and studied, and practised and practised. It was one of the few hobbies she had taken up that she had continued to make use of. She smiled remembering the times when she would entertain her younger siblings with card tricks. She actually giggling recalling the summer where she was hired as entertainment for Blanche's best friend's birthday party. The Marvellously Mysterious Lady Arc, was what she called herself if she remembered correctly.
Dropping the deck of cards to the bed, she raised her hands above her head and stretched. She was bored, but considering the interrogation and subsequent talking to, followed by the smothering hugs and crying her Aunt had subjected her to, she couldn't say being put under house arrest for the remainder of the evening was truly a bad thing. Jaune knew Aunt Glynda was not a fan of her pole dancing, or the fact she gave a strange girl a show... hence the house arrest. She still thought it was a little bit of an over reaction, until the memories of what Sky had tried returned. She shivered, rolling to her side and curling up upon herself.
A ping from her scroll, caused her to raise her head. She idly wondered who would be sending her a message. Most likely Pyrrha or Nora wondering how things were going with her family emergency. Sitting up on her elbow, she reached out and grabbed her scroll, before falling to her back on the bed. Expanding it, she tapped the banner notification and opened the chat program.
"Coco? Do I know a Coco?" she asked herself. She tapped on the icon for the active chat opening it up. The profile imaged opened with the chat box, and Jaune instantly recognized the beret wearing sunglasses sporting cutie. It was then she remembered Aunt Glynda saying that she had a new contact on her scroll. "She was the one on the treadmill!"
"Can we talk?" Coco asked.
"Sure." Jaune replied.
"I have to ask you about... somethings. Is that okay?"
"I guess. What do you want to ask me about?"
"Is your name really Jaune Arc?"
"It is. Short, sweet. Rolls off the tongue... Ladies LOVE it!" (flirty emoticon)
"Well yes... yes I do."
"Is that all, you wanted to ask? I mean from your post it seems like it would be something more than just confirming my name."
"Is it okay if I send you a pic?"
"Ohhh... depends on what it going to be a pic of." (cheeky emoticon)
"It's not going to be that type of pic!"
"Ohhhh." (Sad emoticon)
"Maybe later?"
"Really?" (puppy-eyes emoticon)
"Maybe. Can I send you a pic?"
"Sure. Can I know why?"
"It's part of the question I would like to ask you."
"Okay."
Jaune was intrigued, and eager to see this pic Coco wanted to ask her about. Her thumbs hovered over the on screen keyboard, ready to send an instant reply. When the image appeared, her breath caught in her chest, and her hands began to shake. Looking up at her with a goofy grin was her alternate self.
"Is that you?"
Jaune didn't know how to answer. The truth was that it was her, but she knew she couldn't let anyone know that. She had made a promise to her Aunt and the Headmaster. An Arc never goes back on their word, or that was what her Dad was fond of saying.
"Jaune? Jaune can you answer me? Is that you?"
She had made a promise, but she also didn't want to lie. She had so few chances to met anyone since coming to stay with her Aunt. Then with the hiding as that other Jaune; giving her even fewer opportunities to meet someone who could be interested in the true her. Coco was interested. Jaune had to admit she was interested too. But she had made a promise.
"Jaune, please. I would like to know. Is that really a pic of you?"
Jaune's hands were shaking even more than before. She couldn't. She shouldn't. But she didn't want to lose a chance. She knew Coco had stepped in to protect her. She could remember it. She could also remember the softness of her lap, as Coco worked to comfort her. She hadn't been completely out of it, but she had been to far gone. She had wanted to reply to her question. To tell her her name as they waited for the emergency team to arrive. Jaune bit her lip, while adjusting her grip on her scroll. Holding it with one hand, she used a shaking finger and started to type.
"Jaune?" Coco asked again.
"Can't talk right now. TTYL." (kissing emoticon)
Jaune closed the chat, and collapsed her scroll. Rolling to her side, she let it fall from her limp fingers to thud on the area rug under her bed. Slowly she wrapped her own arms about herself, and pulled her knees up, making herself as small as she could. She could feel wetness on her cheeks. She didn't really understand why she felt like crying, just that she did.
/=/
Coco stared at her scroll, in utter disbelief. She felt a mixture of anger, sadness and annoyance rising in her chest, as she stared at the last post Jaune had made.
"Fucking bitch!" Coco screamed as she hauled off and heaved her scroll across the room. It narrowly missing Velvet's head as hit the wall, the screen shattering.
"Coco!" Velvet cried out in alarm at her team leader's out burst. "What happened?"
"She avoided answering me, then she closed the chat! That little bitch!"
"Calm down, and think for a second, did you expect something different to happen?"
"I..."
"You just met each other, and instead of trying to get to know her, you jump right into is this you. What do you think was going to happen? You probably scared her off."
"I..."
"I need you to calm down, and think, please?"
"I... I... just need to know."
"I know you do, and I think you have a right to know, but I'm sorry but until there is more between you two than a bit of flirting and you beating someone up... maybe you should back off a little. Maybe?"
"But the pics look so similar, and they both have the same name... I mean the exact same name."
"I know it's strange, and I find it odd as well; but again you just met. Give her a bit of time... maybe there is something more to it all?"
"Like what?"
"I don't know, but there has to be something, right?"
"I want to know."
"I know you do, but maybe it's something she can't talk about?"
"She's hiding something."
"OR she could be hiding from someone." Velvet offered.
/=/
Ren dragged himself back to JNPR's dorm. His body sore in places, he didn't realize you could get sore in. He, like Blake had assumed that when Professor Goodwitch told them to be prepared to spar, that they would be repeatedly facing each other. That however, was not the case. Professor Goodwitch was a monster when motivated; and she seemed particularly motivated tonight. She started off with making the pair run laps around the training room. Up and down the observer's section, in addition to the perimeter.
After what felt like hours of going in circles, she called them both to the sparing ring. She divested the pair of their weapons, and then started the simulator. Holographic Beowulf charged at them as their teacher told them she wanted to see how they would deal with a situation where they were had ended up weaponless. Blake was obviously better suited to escaping the attacks of the simulated grim. Ren fell into landing glancing counters using his aura and substantial martial skills.
Her critics of their performance were on point and not as brutal as they had expected, considering the mood she apparently was in. Returning their weapons, she lined them up at the far-side of the room, for what she called the final exercise. Two on one. Students versus teacher. The object for them as a pair to get past her and touch the far wall of the training room. They were both hesitant of how to accomplish the task put before them; when it was revealed that Professor Goodwitch was going to arm herself with two crates of hard rubber balls.
Ren winced as he recalled the sting that occurred when the impromptu projectiles made contact. He could feel the bruises forming, and confirmed it when during he checked himself in the mirror before his after detention shower. He was sure Blake was sporting similar injuries. They had of course failed to even make it to the halfway mark of the training room. The huntresses control of her semblance, and aim was superb.
After Professor Goodwitch called the session as over, she proceeded to interrogate them again. Neither gave in, and responded to her questions with accusations and questions about why they saw Jaune enter the Professor's class room and a young woman who looked remarkably like him exit. Of course they got no answers, and were summarily informed that they would have another session tomorrow. Ren called bullshit in his mind. This wasn't punishment, this was straight up torture for obviously stumbling onto something that they shouldn't have. Which of course cemented his belief that Jaune was hiding something from his friends and team.
He leaned against the wall next to the door of JNPR's dorm, and watched as Blake stumbled through the door of her own dorm room. He heard the exclamations and questions of concern; with their words being cut off as the heavy wooden door swung closed. Pushing himself off the wall, he passed his scroll over the lock, and pushed open the door. Pyrrha and Nora instantly were at his side supporting him as the guided him to his bed. They didn't ask him any questions. Instead them moved to make him comfortable, so he could recover.
Ren decided as he laid down and had a light sheet drapped over him, that he would let them both know what happened, and his own conclusions in the morning.
/=/
Glynda was feeling guilty as she sat down to have a slightly late dinner with her niece. She was remunerating over what she had put Ms Belladonna and Mr Ren through not an hour ago. She had gone too far, her annoyance over everything that had recently happening, having boiled over. Ozpin's idiocy, and apparent lack of compassion. The situation involving Mr Ren's and Ms Belladonna discovery; one that she really couldn't legitimately counter. Then there was of course sudden, and new admirer; and finally the truly enraging part of the last twenty four hours. The actions of one Mr Lark towards Jaune. Glynda's knuckled creaked as she tightened her grip upon the fork in her hand. She really, desperately wanted to take care of Mr Lark's discipline, but after a quick scroll call to Peter, she was slightly appeased. Peter my have a lacklustre teaching style. He was also a braggart; but she knew a few tidbits about Peter's moral compass. It was set firmly on "your actions dictate who you are" and Mr Lark's actions did not speak highly to Professor Port.
Taking a slow breath, Glynda forced her fingers to relax. Peter would deal with Mr Lark in a suitable manner, she was certain of it. So she made a mental note to take it easy on Mr Ren and Ms Belladonna. They were not the cause of her current mental and emotional state. They didn't deserve to suffer for it. Glynda looked up from her plate and turned her focus to her niece. She watched silently as Jaune pushed her food about her plate. She was listless, distracted, and bothered by something.
"Jaune, is everything okay?"
"Everything is fine." Jaune replied in an empty sounding voice.
"Do not tell me that, young lady. I've known you, your whole life, so I can tell when you are being bothered by something. So what is wrong?"
"You remember that girl that helped me in the gym?"
"Ms Coco Adel, the girl you also put on a show for. Yes I remember her. Did she do something?"
"Yes, sort of..."
"What do you mean sort of?"
"She sent me a chat message and a picture..."
"No doubt both featuring inappropriate content..."
"No I was the one who was..." Jaune's grew wide as she that instant realized what she just about let slip.
"Jaune," Glynda spoke in a measured tone as she set her fork down. Leaning back in her chair, she withdrew both her hands from the table. Jaune knew she was clasping them in her lap. "I will... pretend I didn't hear that comment IF... you get to the point as to why you seem so down."
"She... sent me a picture, and asked it that was me."
"What picture?"
"The one you and Headmaster Ozpin took of me for the student registry. The one of me as... him."
"I see." Jaune watched as his Aunt's eyes soften, and a weak smile crossed her lips, "I assume you want to say yes, and tell her what is going on; don't you?"
"Mom always said honesty was best..."
"Yes, Jasmine is rather fond of that saying."
"But... Dad always says an Arc never goes back on their word, and" Jaune paused as if she didn't want to utter her next words out loud. "I made a promise to you and the Headmaster that I wouldn't tell anyone."
"What happened in the chat?"
"I...I... blew her off. Said I would talk to her later." Jaune dropped her fork on her plate, and in a motion very reminiscent of Glynda, she pulled her hands off the table and clasped them in her lap. "She's sent me a couple more messages, but I haven't responded."
"I see."
The pair sat in silence for the next several minutes. Neither touching the cooling food on their respective plates. Jaune had lowered her head and stared at her fidgeting hands, while Glynda regarded her niece.
"Jaune I can see, you are... interested in Ms Adel." Glynda took a moment to collect her thoughts for the next few words as she watched Jaune lift her head. "While I feel there is someone... better for you, I do know you, and how your heart works. Do you really think there is something, or could be something substantial between you?"
"I... I... don't know." Jaune once again downcast her eyes to her lap, "But I want the chance to find out."
"You understand that IF you told her the real truth... you wouldn't only be putting yourself at risk... but also her. Can you do that to her?"
"I..."
"You did make a promise Jaune, and you are right honesty is always best; especially when it concerns affairs of the heart... and I understand, I do."
"But?"
"There is too much risk to be completely honest with Ms Adel at this point. Too much risk at exposing both of you to possible danger. If she is unaware of the whole truth... she is much safer."
"So I should lie?" Glynda watched as Jaune's shoulders slumped in defeat.
"I didn't say that." Glynda stated flatly, "I said telling her the whole truth, or the real truth. I never said you should lie to her."
"So?"
"Tell her there is a situation, and that it is complicated, and you're not ready yet to talk about it. Or something along those lines."
"Be honest about the fact I can't be honest?"
"That is one way to put it, but yes."
"But what if..."
"She breaks off all contact with you?"
Jaune just nodded in response.
"Then it shows she wasn't interested in you enough to give you the benefit of doubt, and allow you the time to completely and properly explain a situation to her that is beyond your control at this point."
Jaune just nodded again, and returned to looking down at her plate. Glynda bit her lip. In her heart she wished that she had put her foot down when Ozpin brought forward his little plan. She knew she should have been more forceful in protecting her Jaune, from all this nonsense and idiocy. Hindsight is twenty-twenty they say, and Glynda was currently suffering from a substantial case of it.
"Jaune, honey just put your plate in the kitchen." Glynda gave her niece a loving smile. "I know you don't feel like eating. Then go have a rest in your room. Think about how you want to say what we just talked about to Ms Adel. But take your time. Don't rush."
"Okay."
/=/
Ozpin was rubbing his hand back and forth across his mouth as he reviewed the results of his inquiries. They were not what he was expecting, and he was working out ways to gather more corroborating evidence, before acting on the information he did have available. Typing in a few commands, he set his personal servers to start a new search. He knew that it would take a few more hours for all the parameters to be met, so he returned to the aged tome he had sat on his desk.
Opening the cracking leather cover, he began to scour and read the antiquated language it was written in. He needed a new method to impress on the young Ms Arc the necessity to listen to his counsel. There was too much at stake, including her very life for her to not listen to his words of wisdom. He needed time, ample time to allow her to mature, to gain the skills and knowledge to possibly be of assistance to his struggles, in this ageless and endless conflict. He would be more cautious this time. Less rushed. She would be given more room to grow into her powers, as he set the stage for a support structure that should prevent any future cases like Amber's to occur.
He had started the process during initiation, and he would be damned if he let anything ruin the arrangements he was making. The maiden's were essential to finally seeing a resolution, to finally achieving peace. Jaune and Glynda both needed to start to listen, or he needed to make them listen. Ozpin needed the maiden's on his side. Amber had gone slightly rogue, and he needed to prevent that from happening again. He had a maiden in Jaune, and a potential in Pyrrha.
Jaune was different from Pyrrha. She was wilful, independent, and when it could be coaxed out of her... a thinker. Ozpin needed Jaune to not be a follower like Pyrrha, but the leader he saw in her. The leader, he knew her family had been educating her to be. But also a leader who would listen to the advice of her elders, but there in lay the issue. Arcs, especially the young ones; were a wilful bunch. Stubborn and hardheaded at the best of times. Completely immobile at the worst. Pyrrha had been groomed her entire life, to obey her sponsors, trainers and anyone else who held some-type of authority over her. Jaune had lead one of freedom and supported choice. She had been allowed to make mistakes, something Pyrrha had not.
"And then there is Glynda... her attachment to Jaune is an issue." Ozpin muttered to himself, as he looked up from the tome to his holographic monitor, and regarded the growing stream of data his private systems were generating. "IF what I think is true... I fully understand it, but she needs to listen to me as much as Jaune does. It's for both of their own good."
/=/
Coco was drawn to her scroll after hearing the chime of receiving a message. It was late, but she couldn't sleep. Questions about Jaune rolling about in her head. Who was she really? Was that picture fake, or a joke? She wish she knew, because not knowing was bothering her. All she could do between classes and during her downtime; was look at the clandestine picture she had taken while the Jaune, that she hoped was real; rested on an infirmary bed. Rolling on to her side, she picked up her repaired scroll; before returning to once again lay on her back. Opening the device up; she tapped the chat notification causing it to open a separate window on her scroll.
She was mesmerized, totally ignoring the pop style song that was playing in the background. AT that very moment her mind only had the power to process one set of stimuli being presented to her. It chose her dark brown eyes to focus on. A rear end that she had spent a good portion of her afternoon watching, and wanting to grope swung back and forth in time to the music. Supported by a set of very high platform heels, and draped in what would basically be considered painted on booty shorts. It wasn't a long video, but it was enough to get Coco breathing a little faster, and her heart beating a little harder.
"I'm sorry."
"Will you answer me now?" Coco replied, her thumbs shaking slightly as she typed.
"I want to."
"But you won't."
"I can't... at least not yet."
"Why are you in trouble? I've defended you once, I'll do it again."
"I never did thank you for that. So thank you."
"But you still won't answer what I asked, will you?"
"I can't. There are things I have to keep to myself right now. I REALLY want to tell you. I NEED to tell you..."
"Can you tell me if you are in trouble?"
"You could say that."
"So you're hiding."
"You could also say that."
"But you still REFUSE to let me in."
"It's not my choice... I don't like this. Mom always told me honesty was the best policy, and this makes me feel like shit, not being able to be open to you. Like you deserve."
"Deserve?"
"I think I like you... or at least I want to get to know you better... but with this between us..."
"You think it will keep me from wanting to get to know you?"
"Yes."
"It wont, and isn't. I think I like you... no that is wrong... I know I like you..."
"Really?"
"Do you promise to tell me? To open up to me when you can? To tell me everything, no matter what it is?"
"I do... and an Arc NEVER goes back on their word. As soon as I can, I will tell you..."
"I'm going to hold you to that. What can you tell me?"
"I can tell you about myself. In fact anything aside from why that picture exists, I will tell you."
"So why the video? That an apology of some-type, a thank you for helping you out... or is it a bribe? To keep me enticed so I'll chat."
"A little of all of the above." (cheeky emoticon)
"Really? You think I'm that shallow?"
"No, but I thought seeing as we were interrupted in the gym... that you might like the gift of a short private show. Did you like it?"
"I did..." (heart emoticon)
"DO you want another one?" (flirty emoticon)
"Maybe later..."
(Sad emoticon)
"No need for that. Let's get to know each other better... then you can spoil me with more private shows... I want you to be more than eye candy for me. I can get that in a strip club."
"Seriously you go to strip clubs?"
"When I'm feeling a little frisky, I do."
"Do you?"
"No. It's only looking... no touching, no flirting, no private shows."
"I'm glad... but will you still?"
"No."
"Really?"
"I want to get to know you... I can't do that if I'm distracted by sets of Tits and Ass that don't belong to you."
"I want to dance for you some more. I liked it... it was exciting."
"I won't say no, and it was exciting for me as well." (flirty emoticon) "Can I ask you something? It's not about that pic. I'll trust you to tell me about that when you can."
"Of course you can ask... I swear to tell you anything I can."
"Are you a fellow student? And I mean a real student. Here to study and train to be a huntress."
"Not really. I'm more here because of the reasons behind that picture... and to be around my favourite Aunt."
"Aunt? You mean you're related to Goodwitch?"
"In a way, yes."
"Now I'm scared."
"Why? Aunt Glynda is sweetheart!"
"Yeah, a sweetheart. Keep telling yourself that, while the rest of the school lives in reality."
"That wasn't nice. She's my family." (sad emoticon)
"I'm sorry... it's just hard to picture the Professor in charge of Combat Class, as anything but..."
"A hardass?"
"You said it not me."
"You know I've seen her actually mad, right?"
"That must have been something to see."
"It was... eye opening, but she really cares about everyone... she wants the best for everyone."
"I can agree to that. She does push us to be better, and improve at all times."
"See! Told you complete sweetheart!"
"Let's change the subject, okay?"
"Okay."
"Why the heels? They look a little excessive... like excruciatingly too much to wear all the time. Is that all you wear?"
"I wear more than just heels."
"Like?"
"Clothes." (cheeky emoticon)
"That is a smart ass answer!"
"It is."
"Well?"
"I find them comfortable, and..."
"And?"
"They make my ass look fantastic!" (flirty emoticon)
"I concede on that point, because yes... yes they do."
"Do you want to get a coffee or something tomorrow?"
"I would love to! I have classes most of the day, but after we could head to Vale, and hit a quaint little cafe I like."
"I can't leave school grounds... for reasons." (crying emoticon)
"Then how about I bring you some, and we met out in the gardens?"
"That sounds like it might be nice. After classes?"
"Half an hour after. Meet by the statue?"
"Okay."
"Then it's a date." (kissing emoticon)
"It's a date." (heart emoticon)
/=/
Ozpin sat back in his chair. He had been correct in his two assumptions, and he had almost formulated a plan take make use of both if he needed to. A ritual will take care of the problem of hiding Jaune, until she can properly grow into her abilities. As for Glynda... he would present what he knew, and hopefully she would be more amicable to his decisions in regards to Jaune's situation. In Glynda's case; he did wish he could have a little more definitive information, but he had enough circumstantial information to confirm his suspicion.
"The ritual will cause her some discomfort when it is activated, but afterwards... there should be no further side effects like the medallion was causing." Ozpin was talking to himself. He was alone, and often like to hear his own voice as he finalized decisions, and fine tuned plans. "It is going to take time, to prepare, but if she is on the move like I suspect... I am quickly running out of it. I need to get this all under control; there are no other options."
Leaning forward he opened his secure email program. He needed to start the process in regards to Ms Nikos. He doubted the other headmaster's would objected to a sped up timeline. Salem was making moves, and he had to counter them... two maidens at Beacon would be a powerful deterrent, to pressing any advantage she felt gave her the freedom to move so openly against him. He paused, remembering Amber, and her current condition. He had to keep Jaune a secret, even from his inner circle. There was no other option. Somehow someone leaked information about where Amber was going to be. Jaune being the Summer Maiden was still unknown to anyone but him, Qrow and Glynda, so he made the firm decision at that point; to keep it that way.
"Now if only Qrow could only find the Spring Maiden... instead of the bottom of a bottle..." Ozpin muttered to himself as he started to compose his message to the other headmasters.
/=/
Glynda sat on her bed, in the quiet seclusion of her room. Open on her night pant clade lap, a well worn photo album. It contained so many happy memories for her... ones she desperately needed to remind herself of considering recent events. Closing the book, she stood and moved to her closet. Situated on a shelf sitting at chest height; a shelf she had installed in secret by herself, sat a row of similar albums. Each had a a date matched by a note of a specific value in years. There were eighteen in total, all held up by a battered open face knightly helm, being used as a bookend. Sliding the album she had in her hand, into it's proper place in the line of books, she sighed, and stepped back.
She was currently filled with doubt, and self blame. Jaune shouldn't be going through everything she was. She should be at home surrounded by family. Participating in dance recitals, and learning the ins and outs of managing the various and diverse aspects of a city. She was the one declared Nathaniel's heir, and the one who would inherit and assume his position as Magistrate of Ansel when he retired. Sliding her closet door closed, Glynda returned to her bed.
"Maybe it's time?" she asked herself. "Ansel could always use another strong huntress... or I could open a preparatory school there."
She drew back the covers of her bed, and climbed in under them. She had a feeling sleep would be long in coming to her, as ideas, thoughts, regrets and doubts rolled about in her mind.
/==/
So this is the edit of the first chapter 3. Thanks to the input, towards how I was characterizing Ozpin as pretty much evil. I had been considering fixing the chapter and decided to just do it. This should be more in line with how I have been portraying Ozpin in later chapters.
But as always if it isn't working, feel free to tell me that. I'm open to adjust things, as need to make the story better, and I only get more proficient as a proper writer if I'm open to the advice and critiques I receive, while also trying to act on it.
All I ask, is be civil about it. (This has not been a problem in my reviews, so much appreciated guys.)
Sincerely;
Jeremy